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Do I need a COVID test for a 2-hour layover at Narita Airport (NRT) in Japan?

COVID testingJapan transit rulesNarita Airportinternational travelexpat guidancevisa rulesimmigrationconnecting flightsairline policies
Apr 21, 2023
2 years ago
Moe *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Does anybody know if you need a covid test to enter Toyko ( NRT ) I have a 2 hour layover I have a connecting flight
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TLDR : Answer Summary
For travelers with a 2-hour layover at Narita Airport (NRT) in Japan, there is no requirement for a COVID test as long as you are not entering Japan or completing a self-transfer (which requires passing through immigration and collecting luggage). Japan has defined its policies on COVID-19 testing and vaccination requirements for transiting passengers, which have been relaxed significantly, especially with recent announcements stating that all COVID-related entry restrictions will cease effective May 8, 2023. Therefore, if you are traveling throughout this period, checking with your airline for the latest policy updates is advisable.
Ադամ ********
Elimination of all covid restriction moved up from May 8 to to Saturday for Golden Week travel.
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/27/national/covid-poicy-changes-border/?utm_source=pianoDNU&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=72&tpcc=dnu&pnespid=q_LAw5pW_LXZ4.ai.R.0r6MU_wwFsCtphQgpAldtqFyVIiaC.1AnPuZSNoNxPXqZIqXMxA
2 years ago
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Paul *******
@Ադամ *******
That's excellent news.
2 years ago
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Moe *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul ******
 thank u
2 years ago
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Ադամ ********
@Moe ********
 Yes. But the restrictions never applied to transit passengers for the duration of the Covid 19 crisis anyway. Japan airports and airlines never required it and went strictly by the requirements of the country of destination. For example if you flew from Bangkok to Mexico City via Tokyo there was never a requirement to show vaccination or test certificates.

The US STILL requires vaccination for non residents by the way hope it ends soon.
2 years ago
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Paul *******
@Ադամ *******
Well,there's where I disagree. I think Japan did have a test requirement to transit at some stage, perhaps in 2021. It was scrapped long before Thailand did the same, which occurred only in May 2022.
2 years ago
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Ադամ ********
@Paul ******
 You are suffering a misunderstanding. Taiwan did. Hong Kong also. I can’t prove it now but it does not matter. (27 year airline pilot flew to Tokyo for layovers up to 4 times a month during Covid). It is over bro let it go.
2 years ago
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Paul *******
@Ադամ *******
Hong Kong required a whole lot more than a test for transit. Transiting the airport was basically not possible for a long time.
2 years ago
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Ադամ ********
@Paul ******
 I transited HK to go to “Test and Go”. Agents in the white gowns made a big show of herding us transit pax around like diseased cattle. Once we got to the departure gate it was pretty normal.
2 years ago
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Ադամ ********
The nightmare was unimaginable. I was supposed to fly to BKK on EVA 31.12.2020 to go to ASQ. 48 hours before my flight I got an email all transit passengers were banned. I had to re-book everything. Went thru Korea a few days later. They never required tests or vaccinations for transit passengers either.
2 years ago
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Paul *******
@Ադամ *******
You're suffering from amnesia. I am telling you Japan required a test for transit. That was a long time ago now. Let it go.
2 years ago
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Ադամ ********
@Paul ******
 Please provide a link
2 years ago
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Ադամ ********
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Adam **********
I did this recently for a trip to Florida. You don't need a test for a connecting flight as long as it is not a self transfer connect.
2 years ago
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Paul *******
@Ադամ *******
Yes that's what I'm saying, in 2021. I remember some people being impacted by it. The requirement was scrapped even earlier than Thailand did.
2 years ago
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Paul *******
@Ադամ *******
There was. I remember it from 2021.
2 years ago
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Paul *******
@Ադամ *******
Sorry, I should have been more specific. What I meant was there was a requirement to show proof of testing or something to that effect to transit Japan during the height of Covid. This requirement was scrapped perhaps a year ago. There's no point in bringing up the past, but my point is it's inaccurate to suggest that Japan freely allowed transits with no requirements throughout Covid as that isn't true
2 years ago
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Ադամ ********
@Paul ******
 「There never was any requirement to show a test or vaccine to transit Japan airports for the duration the COVID crisis.JL and NH did not require any covid documents and strictly went by country of destination.」The quarantine desk was not even checking documents in Haneda this month, just waving people past. The legions of Quarantine staff and checkpoints gone. Actually all I had to do was upload my vaccine certificate to the airline mobile app. I have been 4 times since October glad the nightmare is over in January it took 2 hours to get out of Chitose airport
2 years ago
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Paul *******
@Ադամ *******
Anyway, what's your point? I've acknowledged that the requirement has long since ceased. Now its only required if you enter the country but soon that will be scrapped too.
2 years ago
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Ադամ ********
@Paul ******
 「Are you sure? I think at one time they might have but that was long ago, perhaps back in 2021？」Paul I'm sorry I thought you commented in the form of a query. I made a technical point about the transit requirements, much same as Korea, which were widely misunderstood for the obvious reason that most people needed certificates for their country of destination anyway. Let's just forget about it and hope it never happens again. I could not go to my home for 30 months. Bad memory.😞
2 years ago
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Ադամ ********
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Moe *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Adam *********
 what do you mean self transfer I fly with one airline then I hop on with another airline I change airlines I have a 2-hour flight delay
2 years ago
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Moe *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I have carry on
2 years ago
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Moe *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I fly from Bangkok with Air Canada and I transferred to WestJet 2 hrs between flights WestJet moved it up 6 hours on me hopefully that gives me enough time to get on my plane they do have covid testing at the airport correct if I need one ?
2 years ago
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Ադամ ********
@Moe ********
 Self transfer is where you bought separate tickets on different airlines, requiring you to complete all entry requirements in NRT. Or, those itineraries sometimes offered requiring you to go between Narita and Haneda airports in Tokyo by ground transport. Then you need triple vaccination or a PCR test. All of these rules will end May 8.
2 years ago
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Moe *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank. U
2 years ago
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Moe *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
No just have carry on
2 years ago
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Ադամ ********
@Moe ********
 You said you are changing airlines. But is it a code share flight where your you on a single itinerary with one PNR ? Then you do not need to do anything. Japan has never required testing or vaccination for transit/connecting flights for the duration of Covid.
2 years ago
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Paul *******
@Ադամ *******
Are you sure? I think at one time they might have but that was long ago, perhaps back in 2021.
2 years ago
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Ադամ ********
@Paul ******
 What is the question? I have been to Japan this month. You still need triple vax or a pcr test to enter Japan until May 8. There is no test or vax required to transit.
2 years ago
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Lynnette *******
@Moe ********
 but are you passing through immigration and checking back in? Thats self transfer. Thats like entering the country because you've gone through immigration to check in at counter for next flight.

OR is your flight and connecting flight booked through from point of departure to destination. Which means you stay airside and never entered the country.
2 years ago
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Lynnette *******
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Adam **********
@Moe ********
 self transfer means you have to get your luggage and pass through immigration (entering Japan) and then check in again.

If you are doing this I think ypu need to contact your airline as I'm not 100% if it is only a test you need.
2 years ago
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Adam **********
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Paul *******
Yes if you're not triple vaccinated BUT all of these rules will be scrapped effective May 8. If you can reschedule your flight till after that date you won't need to do anything.
2 years ago
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Paul *******
Nothing required for transit since ages already though.
2 years ago
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Paul *******
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Bob **********
I didn’t last July but you should just ask your airline
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
You're not entering Japan. Japan covid restrictions do not matter.
2 years ago
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Michael ********
Where is nrt?
2 years ago
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Jan **********
@Michael *******
 narita
2 years ago
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Michael ********
@Jan *********
 ah thanks author must have a vowel phobia
2 years ago
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Steve *******
@Michael *******
 NRT is the airport code for Tokyo Narita
2 years ago
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Steve *******
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Moe *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
 Tokyo NRT
2 years ago
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Moe *********
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Brandon ************
2 hours isn't enough time to leave the airport so it shouldn't matter. Go have a meal and walk around a little then go to your gate.
2 years ago
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Colin **********
@Brandon ***********
 I think there saying if your connecting flight is international then you don't clear customs, and not enter the country
2 years ago
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Moe *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Colin *********
 no just carry on
2 years ago
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Moe *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Colin *********
 I'm not planning on staying in the country just getting off one plane hopping on another one
2 years ago
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Alistair **********
@Moe ********
 are you going though immigration and collecting your luggage to check into your next flight?
2 years ago
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Alistair **********
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Moe *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Colin *********
2 years ago
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Moe *********
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Moe *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 I'm getting off one plane and I'm hopping on another one two hour layover
2 years ago
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Moe *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 I wasn't planning on leaving the airport I have a transfer flight I just want to know if I need a covid test to enter the country
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
@Moe ********
 you're not entering the country
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
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